Election Day annouced & I'm suddenly feeling political ...

I'm very intrigued in this social/political meaningfulness of crafting that has emerged over the last few years. I mean just check out what's happening in Australia, USA or NZ . I did Women's Studies 10 years ago at Vic and never really 'came out' politically even though I worked in the Domestic Violence arena for a few years. Currently I work in a hugely male-orientated, corporate world making little attempts to change the system YET I still think of myself as feminist - supporting and valuing people regardless of their gender and associated stereotypes.

However I have for same time now pondered how one assimilates her desire to shout obscenities at pervy business men in lunch meetings, pull on a pinny, shake her fist as pay inequality increases in NZ, whip up some Florentines and read the latest NBR, Catharine McKinnon or Ann Oakley "Who's Afraid of Feminism?" or Debbie Bliss "Baby Knits for Beginners" or a No Idea mag? My increased attention to all things crafty means I'm having to really work on not accepting the stereotypes of this, historically women-only, domain. Why do I find myself saying "I knit" like I am excusing myself for a dodgey habit or trying to prove point - because social constructionisim is a strong brew to hold down!

I started reading a few fem sites recently, which are perking up my interest in this personal/political arena again - and let's face it the Americans are always over-the-top on politics and social reform which is highly entertaining for a kiwi:


Guerrilla Girls
Feministing
I Blame the Patriarchy

What also got me thinking about this was talking with Granny G and Arty Farty at KR last week about how for several years now media have been harping on about the "knitting is making a come-back" storyline which has just got BORING. I mean how many SnB groups, Cupcake cafes, retro handmade cushions have to appear in markets before "crafting" becomes mainstream. Mainstream in the sense that like ipod movies, Facebook status updates, Jennifer Aniston's love life and recycling to make your carbon footprint lighter - it's no longer a topical issue - just part of everyday normal life.


I read a great theory of "craft-vism" from a blogger (who, 1000 apologies to them, I can't find the link to now) that crafting in any form expresses a person's creativity and that that form of creativity has been commericalised and restricted to art galleries, auction houses, restaurants and uber-coolness. Crafting brings art back to the people and reinforces the healthy necessity of creativity to our daily lives.


On a practical level I believe everyone (woman, man or child) needs to re-learn crafts whether it's knitting, cabinet-making, preserving or hand printing. As the earth's population grows we in the lazy West need to be more resourceful, responsible and self-sufficient - less reliant on the capitalist world that's being encouraged as to the world's largest growing populations and economies.


So yeah ... I was feeling a bit sentimental today!